"Billy Forney was on the 85th floor of One World Trade Center on Sept. 11 when the first plane struck, with a force that swayed the tower. “At 8:48, in an instant, there was this immediate explosion ... white smoke whipping in and out,” said Forney to Rotarians and guests at last week’s Rotary Club of Humble Intercontinental luncheon."

> 9/11 Commission Report says WTC 1 was struck at 8:46a. This guy is specific about 8:48a; is he mistaken? Paper misquote? What did he say prior to this quote; was he referring to a separate explosion?

"Forney said that at about the 73rd floor, people were running back up, toward his group and the others making their way down."

"At about the 65th floor, they saw a film of smoke on the ceiling, but they did not know the building was burning."

> WTC 1 was hit between the 92nd and 98th floors; Forney was on the 85th and his group left "quickly" after the "explosion"; how does this smoke get on the ceiling of the 65th floor without criminal malfeasance? I suppose the Commission would claim the jet fuel that poured down the elevator shaft and blew up the lobby, also started a fire on the 65th floor on its way down?

"On the 50th floor, the group encountered a man who was “drenched in blood,” assisting a woman who was also badly injured."

> I suppose it's possible this couple was close enough to the attack site to get this badly injured; they wouldn't have waited til 8:49 or 8:51a as Forney's group did to leave, they would've left immediately; the possible 5 minute head start would've given them enough time to get so far ahead of Forney that he didn't catch them til the 50th floor. Or maybe the "drenched in blood" guy was on the 80th floor, and just fell on a pile of razors or something when the building was hit? Dunno- maybe it was one of the bombs on the other floors of the building?

Full article:

Billy Forney was on the 85th floor of One World Trade Center on Sept. 11 when the first plane struck, with a force that swayed the tower.

“At 8:48, in an instant, there was this immediate explosion ... white smoke whipping in and out,” said Forney to Rotarians and guests at last week’s Rotary Club of Humble Intercontinental luncheon.

Forney, a native Houstonian, was working in New York City as an assistant trader for SMW Trading Company. He had only been on the job for about a year. That day, he recalled, there were about 11 people in the small office.

Forney told of an explosion that threw him to the floor.

“The building was lurching ... I thought I was going to die.”

He described the scene as oddly normal after the explosion. He said that the lights were still on, the phones rang, and the computers were working. Forney said that most of the people in his office were young – that group wanted to get out immediately. His older co-workers, those who still had vivid memories of the bomb attack in 1994, were concerned that perhaps they should wait for word that it was safe to evacuate. The matter was quickly decided and the group left the office together – unaware of exactly what had just happened.

Forney said that at about the 73rd floor, people were running back up, toward his group and the others making their way down.

“When people are running back up at you, you get a little more frightened.”

They were told that the doors were locked in a portion of the stairwell, and a new route was needed. They sought the next, nearest stairwell and continued down.

“By this point rumors about a plane hitting were circulating, and then we heard that a second one hit the other tower.”

Forney said the scene was eerily calm. He said that although thoughts were chaotic, movements were not. People just moved down – no pushing or running or cutting in front of others.

At about the 65th floor, they saw a film of smoke on the ceiling, but they did not know the building was burning. A lady held a piece of wet cloth to her mouth. She was somewhat panicked.

“She said, ‘I’ve got three kids; I’ve got to get out of here,’” said Forney.

He said that she calmed down and he hoped that she did get out, but he did not know.

On the 50th floor, the group encountered a man who was “drenched in blood,” assisting a woman who was also badly injured. Those on the stairwell left a space for this slow-moving pair. Some went around carefully, but no one cut in front or became frustrated at walking behind them. The mood remained calm.

Shortly after, they came across a fireman, which Forney said provided them a sense of reassurance. Later they would see other firemen taking rests in rooms off the stairwell.

At about the 20th floor, Forney and his friend, Rob, stopped to assist a lady, Juliet, who was letting people pass as she remained motionless. She told the men that she was unable to continue. Rob took her bag as Forney assisted Juliet down the stairwell. Rob, said Forney, was humorous even in that perilous situation, indicating that Juliet must have put the whole office in her bag, because it was very heavy.

They became separated from others from their office, as helping Juliet slowed them down.

They finally arrived at street level but were still in the building. Forney said he could see outside for the first time. He said he saw trees and things that were smoldering.

“I see blue sky, and I see dark clouds ... then some human body parts.”

The firefighter led the evacuees to the underground area, where tunnels filled with shops were located. Forney described it as an underground Galleria.

They followed the firefighter along a path that led them from beneath both towers. He said that the area was vacant except for them, some firefighters and some Port Authority workers.

Juliet wanted to stop and take a rest. She asked about her bag and looked as if she might turn around and go back for it, but Forney assured her that Rob still had it.

“Just at that instant I hear people ... people are screaming and someone yells, “Everybody run!.’”

Two World Trade Center then collapsed.

Forney described the sound as that of a tidal wave. The lights flickered, said Forney, and someone yelled for them to get down. He said that he ducked into a doorway, closed his eyes and clenched his teeth – this was the second time that he thought he was going to die, he said.

He had pushed Juliet to the ground. Shards of glass whirled through the air and he was pelted by debris.

When he opened his eyes, Forney explained, it was still just as dark as when they were closed.

“You couldn’t see your hand six inches from your face,” said Forney.

He tried to get a breath, coughed a lot, and then tried to get another. The air was thick with soot and particles.

Then some firefighters and Port Authority workers turned on their flashlights. Forney and Juliet and Rob, along with a few others, followed a fireman’s light.

“That tidal wave killed everyone right behind ... we were the last ones before all of that death,” said Forney.

They made it outside and headed down the street, lined with people staring as they went past. Then the stares turned to gasps and he turned to see what was happening.

His building, One World Trade Center, came crashing to the ground.

As Forney concluded the telling of his ordeal, Rotarians and guests stood and clapped. One member asked if he and Rob and Juliet kept in contact. Forney said that they did, on occasion.

All of those in his office made it out of the building before it collapsed.

Forney continued work for SMW for another 18 months before returning to Houston. He and his wife, Tobey, have since had two children, a son and a daughter.